Year: 2017 | Month: June | Volume 5 | Issue 1
Arsenic Contamination of Groundwater in West Bengal: Awareness for Health and Social Problems
DOI:10.5958/2322-0465.2017.00005.3
Abstract:
During the last four decades arsenic contamination of groundwater in nine districts out of twenty in West Bengal has become a serious problem. About 20% population of West Bengal in nine districts (Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Kolkata, Howrah, Hoogly and Burdwan) are affected by arsenic problem. Arsenic enters into the human body by drinking of contaminated groundwater and food grains which are irrigated from contaminated water. Bio-accumulation of arsenic is occurring from the food grains as irrigated with arsenic contaminated water. Arsenic contamination of ground water in West Bengal leads to adverse effects on human health. Chronic exposure of arsenic can cause skin cancer and other health effects. Groundwater contamination with arsenic and human suffering are increasing in West Bengal. Arsenic affected people are also facing serious social problems in the affected villagers who are living in very poor economic conditions. To combat the arsenic crisis in West Bengal it is desperately need to increase awareness and educate the people about the problem. Besides, it is also necessary to use maximum of surface water resources by traditional water treatment techniques such as use water after filtration by activated alumina or use water after boiling for safe drinking water.
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